The Acting Port Manager Rivers Port, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke has applauded the flag-off maintenance of Port Harcourt access road, describing the development as right step in the right direction.
Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, who also doubles as the Traffic Manager of Rivers Port made the commendation at the port shortly after the Executive Governor of Rivers State and management of Nigerian Ports Authority signed a paper to partner for the rehabilitation of the long abandoned Port access road.
Addressing journalists shortly after the flag-off of the road by Governor Barr. Nyesom Wike and the Managing Director of NPA Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, represented by the General Manager Eastern Ports Mr. Obumneme Onuenyenwa, Mrs. Ezeoke described the port access road as critical, noting that it will help to boost business activities within the port area.
While describing the flag-off as a milestone, she said the state of the road has constituted serious bottlenecks, for effective activities at the port.
She added that cargoes meant for Rivers Port dropped because the access road has been bad, causing importers to divert cargoes meant for them to other ports.
She expressed optimism that the road when rehabilitated will attract more cargo to Rivers Port.
“Good road will attract more business activities at the port, since trucking of cargo to and from the Rivers Port will be easier” Mrs. Ezeoke stated.
She commended the General Manager Eastern Ports for his bold initiative on behalf of NPA management, in drawing the attention of State Governor to the poor state of port access road, shortly after he resumed work as the General Manager Eastern Ports.
While thanking Governor Wike for his decision to partner in the rehabilitation of the Rivers Port/Industry Road, she said that because the governor came in person shows there is a lot of commitment on the part of government to ensure that the job will be completed on schedule.
The Acting Port Manager assured NPA’s host community of management’s co-operation and readiness to carry them along in scheme of things.
During the road maintenance flag-off, Governor Wike expressed his appreciation for the decision of NPA and other stakeholders to partner with Rivers State government to improve road conditions in the state.
He said it is part of his government policy to improve all roads in Rivers State, stating that improvement of port access road will boost commercial activities at the port.
Earlier in his remark in the government house during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Alhaji Ado Bayero, who was represented by the General Manager Eastern Ports Mr. Obumneme expressed appreciation for the deal between NPA and Rivers State government, to rehabilitate the port access road.
He commended the development saying that it is made possible because NPA under the new Managing Director is positively disposed to do things differently.
“Let me say that the new management team is committed at doing things differently to produce results without going through excessive bureaucratic bottlenecks” the General Manager Eastern Ports said.
He also commended Rivers State government for their support to partner with NPA to address the challenges of the port access road.
Meanwhile the project is to be executed by Zerock Construction Company and it is expected to commence immediately and be completed under 3 months.
In the company of the Governor was the Deputy Governor Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo. Also present at the occasion were some government representatives, some NPA officers/staff, some host communities, concessionaires, shipping companies, union representatives, press representatives etc.
